High GMAT, low GPA - do I have a chance at a top school?

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Hello, please evaluate my chances at some top schools

Age: 28 at matriculation.

My Achilles heal is my GPA. I have a 3.21 from BYU, studying food science and nutrition. I am taking two additional classes right now - Calculus and Microeconomics, I am on track to get A's in both of them.

WE: Almost 3 years at matriculation for a large ingredient and flavors company doing product development. No direct reports but I've continuously been given higher profile projects to manage as well as bigger clients. I've managed development projects through to production for companies such as McDonalds and OSI, Arby's, Nestle, Tyson etc.

Also I had an internship with Nestle for the last year and half of my undergrad as a quality analyst. I worked in a production plant doing projects for hazard, sensory, and microbiological analysis. Its not formal work experience, but I think its pertinent because together with my current work experience I have a pretty deep understanding of my industry. I worked 20-25 hours per week and also trained incoming interns.

GMAT: 750

EC: 2 year LDS mission to Central America, fluent in Spanish. According to Whartons website, they also count this as full time work experience.
During college EC's were ok, I was active in a couple clubs, intramural sports, and church service.
After college: also pretty good, various church service positions including current leadership position. I'm also organizing and leading a service project for a hospital in Ghana.

Post MBA: hopefully leverage my project management and problem solving skills to work for a top consulting firm. Eventually I may move into management for a company such as Nestle or General Mills.

What do you think of my chances at:
Wharton
Chicago
Kellogg
Tuck
UCLA
Cornell

Not sure how I hold up for admission at these schools with my low GPA, I'm hoping that my GMAT and the extra classes will help with that. How do you think my work experience will be viewed? It is technical, chemistry based work, but it also involves a lot of team work and project management, as well as client management.

Thanks for your help.
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by Stacey Oyler » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:37 am
Hi,

Thanks for your post. It appears to me that you are taking the proper steps to address your low GPA. Taking classes and building an alternate transcript is a great way to demonstrate not only your academic ability, but also to build up your foundation coursework which will benefit you in your first year of bschool (the most quant heavy period).

Your work experience sounds solid and you appear to have a good trajectory thus far. You'll want to highlight your project management and client relationship skills. A common myth for those applying to bschool is that managing people or a team is required. This is not at all the case as many bschool students won't manage people until years after bschool! However, you do need to demonstrate your management and leadership ability, but this can be done by highlighting projects and accomplishments. You can also reference experiences outside of the office to support these skills.

Bottom line, I do think you can be competitive at the schools on your list. You'll want to write a brief optional essay for each school that points out the coursework you are taking in order to mitigate any potential concerns.

Please feel free to send your resume to [email protected] for a more detailed assessment.

Best,

Stacey
Sign up for my MBA admissions course, featuring me and other Clear Admit experts, by visiting: https://www.udemy.com/business-school

Stacey Oyler
Clear Admit, LLC
[email protected]
215.568.2590

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